Arts and Letters Bookstore

 I finally had the opportunity to visit the Arts and Letters Bookstore on the square in Granbury the other day. It was a quaint space with a variety of books. 

One of the things I found interesting about the bookstore were some of the other services the bookstore provided. They have Staff Picks which are book recommendations from employees, a subscription service where each month a book is handpicked and delivered to you,and a monthly bookclub. 

It also hosts special events like a midnight release of a new anxiously awaited book. Although, Granbury is a little far for weekly visits for me I would definitely recommend visiting if you are in the area or live nearby. 

So far this is the eighth independent bookstore I have visited this year. Most were in the local area and another was in Ruidoso, New Mexico. 

This week I plan on returning to the first bookstore I visited in January, Intermission Bookstore in Brownwood. 

You Are Your Choices

 

This book by Alexander Stoddard will probably be the last book I finished reading in 2023. I went ahead and took notes throughout so it took a little longer than it probably should. However, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stoddard’s POV about choices and how they influence and affect our day to lives. 

What made this book even more special is that it came from a third party vendor, and although not new, it was a signed copy. I had read quite a bit of Stoddard in the 90’s, and always loved her zest for life. 

This book is basically a series of 50 essays that could be read in any order. I’m sure I’ll dip back in periodically from time to time. 

Prior to this I attempted to read Lone Wolf  Jodi Picoult. Although it wasn’t bad, I realized that at this season of my life reading random fiction has become more of a struggle than a joy. I haven’t given up completely, but I think I need to be a little more discerning when it comes to how I want to spend my time. 

However, overall I can say I did read throughout 2023, and that is really what is most important. 

Storiebook Cafe

 I’m glad I finally made a trip to Storiebook Cafe in Glen Rose. 

Even if you are not a book lover, the food alone is worth the trip. I didn’t end up purchasing any books, but being surrounded by books and Christmas decorations sure made for an enjoyable lunch. 

The books here are not new, and are primarily fiction. I’ve decided to not invest as much in fiction this coming year, and rely more on my local library.  

What I found interesting about the small town of Glen Rose was there were actually two other bookstores on the square. One was used books and antiques, and the other had a combination of both. I’ll do a little write up about the third bookstore we visited. 

Along with lunch we visited several stores on the square. It was a fun way to spend an afternoon. 

Library Adventure

 

The other day I took the opportunity to do something that had peaked my curiosity. I visited the grounds of the Dublin, Tx Public Library because I had noticed before that they had a series of book pages arranged around the outside of the library. I discovered that the displayed book was Miss Maple’s Seeds by Eliza Wheeler. 

This was a delightful story that captured my imagination. The illustrations, by Wheeler as well, were magical. I’m curious if the library changes the story periodically. Actually, I hope so.  The display was positioned around the library building on a gravel walking trail. The grounds of the library was flanked by beautiful old trees, and the crisp autumn air made this adventure quite enjoyable.  

I knew when I left I would have to own the book. It arrived a few days ago, and is just beautiful! My favorite quote is:

“… for the world is big and you are small.” 

There is a reference in the story to a grand tree that began from the smallest of seeds. I couldn’t help but be reminded of the parable of the mustard seed. 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in the field; it is the smallest of seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

Matt 13:31-32

Dr. Seuss

 

“The more that you read, the more that y you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Dr. Seuss 

The first two books I owned were by Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat, and One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish were birthday gifts for my sixth birthday. Interestingly, during my years as an elementary school teacher, Dr. Seuss books were not high on my priority list.

However, I have introduced my grandsons to his work, and they have been enjoyed and read many times. 

Traveling

 

Recently Chuck and I planned a trip to Ruidoso, New Mexico. Two things were appealing about the trip. One was the cooler weather we would encounter, and the other was that it was just under seven hours to get there. 

As we planned our vacation we knew that we wanted to listen to an audiobook in the car as we traveled. We had done this one time before on a trip to Virginia and Massachusetts.  Of course, that was several years ago, and back then we relied on CDs and a CD player in our car. 

Today our new car doesn’t even have a CD player. Everything is done through streaming through your phone. With this in mind I knew I wanted to take advantage of the Libby App from my library. 

As I pursued my options I ended up choosing the John Grisham novel, The Boys From Biloxi. My father had lived in Long Beach, Mississippi near Biloxi so I was already familiar with the area. I had read several John Grisham novels in the past, and knew he told a good story. Also, I figured from the reviews it would be a story enjoyed by both my husband and I. 

I had a little trouble downloading the story at first, but a young woman over at the Comanche Public Library was able to troubleshoot the problem. Apparently another book I had downloaded in the system needed to be cleared before it would allow me to download the audiobook.

Once we got that cleared up streaming it from my phone was a breeze. As we traveled the back roads to New Mexico, listening to the book was a good break from a continuous stream of talk radio. Each time we set out for a day trip away from our home base of Ruidoso we would continue our story. 

Grisham did not disappoint, and we learned so much about the underground dealings of Bilouxi during prohibition and beyond. We also learned about the Biloxi mafia who ruled bars, brothels and gambling. All pretty much illegal at the time, but allowed due to corruption and payments to local law officials. 

Now the one drawback was the length of the recording. I hadn’t really given it that much thought beforehand, but it was seventeen hours of listening. Since we have returned we have tried once to continue the story, but realistically I’m not sure we will actually be able finish it. 

However, that being said, I really have no regrets about the story, and I don’t crave any particular resolution. Each chapter was interesting enough by itself, kind of like a Netflix series. I may finish up on my own, though. I had twenty-one days to finish it, but I’m sure I could check it out again. 

If you are planning a road trip in the future, or even if you are traveling full time as a lifestyle you might want to take advantage of this free service. Just sign up with your local library and then create an account. 

What are your thoughts about listening to audiobooks while you travel?

The Maid

 

I just finished reading The Maid by Nita Prose. (I almost have to wonder if that is a actually her real name.)

In a nutshell I’d say this was an enjoyable read. It was clever, and a window into the life of someone who others would describe as “different.”

It also showed how easy it is for some to take advantage of innocence and a trusting nature. Molly the maid is an interesting character, and her black and white view of the world was somewhat refreshing. 

If you need a quick read this might be the one for you. 

Tolstoy & Co. Bookshop

Quest- “a search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something.” 

Always on the lookout for a quest, I decided I would try to visit as many independent bookstores as possible when I started this blog. 

In early July, my husband Chuck and I made a trip to Clifton, Texas about an hour from our home. After a delicious lunch at the Corner Drug Cafe we headed down to Ladybugs to check out their merchandise. From there we crossed the street to Tolstoys & Co. Bookshop.

We had a pleasant visit with the owner who filled us in on a little local history. She recommended The Maid as a possible book I might enjoy reading. ( I might have confessed to her that I was struggling to find fiction lately that was new and different.)

Her shop was cozy, and inviting and looked like a perfect place to spend a little time out of the hot sun. 

After leaving we traveled down the road to Valley Mills Vineyard. We had been told it resembled a Tuscan winery, and it the view certainly didn’t disappoint. 

Our trip to Clifton was a fun way to celebrate my birthday, and our anniversary. I highly recommend checking out the bookstore along with the town. 

Disappointed

 

Well, I’ve read two books lately that began in such an enticing way that I thought l’d hit the fiction jackpot in choosing them. However, sadly as I continued reading them I found myself disappointed..

The first was Our Missing Hearts by Celest Ng which I thought initially could be one of my favorite books ever. As it continued I kept thinking surly there has to be more, and I desperately wanted a resolution to a very thought provoking start. 

The book did make me think, and for that I’m glad I read it. I’d be curious to know if any of you have read it, and what you thought about the author’s premise, and if you were satisfied with its conclusion?

The next book was In Five Years by Rebecca Serle.  This was a lighter read, but intriguing in its own way. However, once again it took a turn midway that in my mind was basically filler. 

So to say the least I was let down by both of them. I’m finding that if you have read hundreds, if not thousands, of books over the years you find yourself  craving something new and different. 

Couple that with an attention span, ruined by years of i pad use, and it’s difficult to find something that holds your interest all the way through. 

Have you read anything lately that you found especially intriguing?

Reading Rule

 

Here’s some advice about when to stop reading a book from author Ryan Holiday, who has made the study of stoicism his life’s work. 

“My rule: 100 pages minus your age-so if you are 30 years old and a book hasn’t captivated you by page 70, stop reading it. That way as you age, you have to endure crappy books less and less.”

Love it! 

Libby App

 

I tried something new the other day, and I think I’m going to like it. 

I downloaded my first book onto my i pad Kindle using the Libby App.

Now in case you are unfamiliar with what this is I’m including a description from the help page on the Libby website: 

“Libby is a free app where you can borrow ebooks, digital audiobooks, and magazines from your public library. You can stream titles with Wi-Fi or mobile data, or download them for offline use and read anytime,anywhere.All you need to get started is a library card.”

I checked out Harvesting the Heart by Jodi Picoult. It appears that for some titles you may have to wait a bit, but this was actually an older novel of hers. I’ve read three of her books so far, and have found her to be really intriguing in her style. I am given 21 days to read the book, and I’m thinking just like regular library books if there is not a hold on it you can probably renew it. 

I’m still not sure about audio books, although I do have a new friend who swears by them. I might just need to check one out, and give it a try. 

Both the DeLeon and the Comanche Libraries give you free access to the Libby App.

Let me know if you’ve tried this before or are considering giving it a try. 

Dear Mrs. Bird

 

Well I’ve been struggling to finish reading Dear Mrs. Bird by AJ Pearce. It’s not that there’s anything really wrong with the book, and it got good reviews. 

It’s just that I can’t seem to really get lost in it enough to want to return to find out what happens next. I’ve literally been “reading” this book for a month now, and I’m only about halfway through. The sad thing is that this is not even a long book. 

I don’t know why I’m so opposed to not finishing a book? I decided tonight to put it back on the shelf. I must admit it’s not the book for me, and life is too short to not enjoy what I’m reading. 

Is this a dilemma for you?

Update: I went ahead and finished the book. It actually was pretty good, and I learned more about how London suffered during WWII. If you enjoy this book it actually is first in a series that you might want to check out. 

The Personal Librarian

I just finished reading The Personal Librarian co-authored by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray. 

This book is based on the life of Belle da Costa Greene, the personal librarian and art curator for millionaire J.P. Morgan. It takes place beginning around 1905.

What is fascinating about this story is that Belle is an African American who is “passing” as white in a world full of strict restrictions as far as the races are concerned. 

The decision to live as white was made by her mother, and was made at the cost of losing her husband who was an early civil rights advocate. 

Although, Belle goes on to be extremely successful and regarded, this is achieved through great sacrifice on her own part. Her fear of being discovered lives with her daily, and results in the decision not to marry in fear that a child of her own might reveal her secret. 

Belle’s intelligence, instincts and wit make her a fascinating individual, and her relationship with J.P. Morgan was truly one of a kind. 

I highly recommend this book for two reasons. One because it is the story of an amazing woman, and two because it reflects a time in our history not to be forgotten. 

The Morgan Library and Museum is open to the public in New York City. 

The Lost Apothecary

I remember watching a PBS documentary on forensic science several years ago. I found it fascinating that in the 1920s there were quite a few murders by poisoning. Apparently at that time forensics and toxicology was so new that it was difficult to trace the poisons in the body that contributed to the death of an individual. 

I just finished a very interesting book entitled The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner. It is the story of a young woman who discoveries an old apothecary bottle while mudlarking in London. (I had never heard of mudlarking before, but the book will catch you up to speed.) In fact, it was a mudlarking trek that inspired the author to begin researching more about apothecaries and poisoning. 

This find leads Caroline, the young woman, on a journey to discover who it belonged to, and what it might have once contained. 

Meanwhile, the story also follows an apothecary owner, Nella, who lives in the late 1700’s. She provides care for women’s ailments, and poisons to kill the men in their lives. 

It really was a fascinating story about a time period I’ve rarely read about, and it is also a coming of age story for the present day character, Caroline. I also find it fascinating that due to today’s scientific advancements poisoning is not as common of a practice when it comes to murder. 

Although, a different kind of story The Lost Apothecary was an enjoyable read. 

Unfinished Books

 

How comfortable are you with not finishing a book you have started reading? I used to think that if I started something I needed to finish it. I’m not sure exactly why? I wonder if a teacher instilled this in me, or was it just because I didn’t want to be a “quitter.”

However, things are different now that I’ve gotten older, and I’ve changed my mind about the necessity of having to finish each book I start. Life seems too short spend time reading something you don’t really enjoy. 

What is that old adage? “So many books, so little time.” I say I have to agree. 

Over the last three months I’ve stopped reading three books. One was actually not too bad, but I just never found myself drawn back toward it. It was a nonfiction book, and I think I may return to it another time. 

Not to be a prude, but one had language that I really don’t like to read, so I put it down, and finally the last one was just a little too weird for my tastes. I began another book in my collection, and was happy I did. 

So far I’m really enjoying it, and I’m glad I moved on. 

What about you? Do you finish every book you begin reading or do you start a new one?

Cookbooks

 

One of my favorite kind of cookbooks are the ones that tell a story. 

100 Days of Real Food is the story of a young family who change their life by changing their eating habits. They decide to only eat real food, nothing processed , for 100 Days. This cookbook recounts the family’s story, guides you to eating the same way, and includes plenty of recipes. 

The Blue Zones cookbook takes you on a trip around the world to places called Blue Zones. Remarkably the people who live in these areas seem to live longer than most. Not only do you get to learn the story of each group, you also get to try out the food from each region. 

Cookbooks written by The Pioneer Woman and the Magnolia Table series by Joanna Gaines provide you with family friendly meals, beautiful pictures, and stories about each family. Joanna’s third Magnolia Table cookbook hits the shelves on May 2nd. 

One of my favorite cookbooks in this genre is by David Letterman’s mother. The personal nature of the book makes you feel right at home with his family.

I have a sweet friend named Annette who shares the same sentiment about cookbooks as I do. Whether we turn to them regularly for recipes or not, we do enjoy pursuing through the pages reading bits and pieces here and there. 

What about you? Do you have a favorite cookbook that tells a story?

Author Sunday-Jodi Picoult

 

I’m beginning to think that Jodi Picoult may be one of my favorite authors. Although, on some levels I have a love/hate relationship with her novels. 

As of today I’ve only read three of her books-Leaving Time, The Book of Two Worlds, and Wish You Were Here. 

Now it’s very obvious that Picoult puts a lot of time and research into her books and shares that information with her readers. Now in my opinion this can sometimes be to a fault. 

However, that being said I can’t help but admire her breadth of knowledge, and her willingness to devote the time necessary to do the research. It adds a whole different level to her writing. (One I secretly admire and wish I had the tenacity to do so as well.)

What I’m finding with her books, though, is there always seems to be an unexpected twist in each one. 

Although, I have found myself struggling through at times I’ve never been disappointed that I continued to read. Perhaps her book on Egypt, The Book of Two Worlds, may be a little intense on Egyptology, but the plot and characters keep you engaged.

 

If you haven’t read my posting about Leaving Time, and the unusual, but very satisfying way I read it you might want to scroll back and find that on my blog. 

Wish You Were Here takes place during the pandemic in New York City. After reading about the author’s personal experience and the experiences of the characters it was so amazing how different my experience was. I wish I had chronicled it while I was going through it. Sadly, I don’t think we had any idea how long it would have lasted. 

Have any of you read a book by Jodi Picoult. If so what is your opinion about her writing?

I’m including a quote from Wish You We’re Here that I enjoyed reading. 

“According to Darwin’s Origin of Species, it is not the most intellectual of the species that survives; it is not the strongest that survives; but the species that survives is the one that is best able to adapt and adjust to the changing environment in which it finds itself.”

Leon C. Megginson

The Land of Knowledge

 

Author Sunday- Martha Hall Kelly

 

Lilac Girls by Martha Hall Kelly is a  World War II novel that tells the story of Polish young women who were sent to Ravensbruck, a concentration camp exclusively for women. 

It also is the story of an American socialite who works tirelessly to help those who are affected by the war. It is a story that is well worth reading. In fact it is well worth researching how Kelly came about writing this novel when she visited the real life home of Caroline Ferriday, one of the heroines of the story. 

Kelly has since gone on to publish two more novels, The Lost Roses, a prequel to Lilac Girls, and Sunflower Sisters which takes place during the Civil War. 

Her latest book, coming in April of this year is Golden Doves which centers around post WWII, and two female spies who hunt down a Nazi doctor. 

I had the pleasure of attending a book talk given by Kelly a few years ago in Dallas. I always enjoy author talks, and am inspired and fascinated by their writing process. 

Let me know if you have a favorite author that I could showcase on Author Sunday. 

Audible Books

I’ve only listened to one audible book in my lifetime. Chuck and I were taking a road trip and decided to try an audible book along the way. 

Back then you actually bought a set of cds that you played in the CD player in your car. Today my car doesn’t even have a CD player, and audible books are now being streamed. 

Recently I was speaking with a new friend from my book club, and she was telling me how she enjoyed listening to audio books. She got her books from several library services that she had access to. 

I had never really considered this before, and was intrigued because I have library privileges at two local libraries. She also told me she paid for library privileges from a larger city library as well. 

I didn’t even know that was a possibility. Not every library has the same streaming service so she had basically covered all her bases. 

What I do remember from listening to the book 40 Autumns on our trip was that Chuck and I really enjoyed the format. The book itself tells the story of East Germany and the forty years of communism after World War II. It was based on a true story and was an excellent book. It was a nice break from talk radio or music to help pass the time. 

I also know that you can subscribe to Audible, a streaming service, for $14.95 a month with a free three month trial period. I’ve wondered how many books I might actually listen to in a month’s time, and if it would be worth the cost?

I think I might try to get one from my library first, and see if it works for me, and then reconsider. I’m not sure I would want to completely give up reading actual books. This actually was a concern when I got my first Kindle. I found that I preferred actual books, although there were benefits of being able to store and order books instantly in the middle of the night when I finished the first Hunger Games book.

 

Although,  I do know that as my Aunt reached into her nineties her eyesight was prohibitive for reading. I suggested audible books, but I think the technology was over her head by that time. Maybe by learning it now it can allow me to continue reading into my later years.

How about you? Do you listen to audible books or are there other subscription plans or ways to listen? I’d love to hear your thoughts. 

Author Sunday-Lisa See

 

My fascination with books about China began in my teenage years when I read The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck. I was completely fascinated with this ancient culture that I knew nothing about. I enjoyed it so much that I actually took two Chinese history classes in college. I didn’t fully think that one through, because it was kind of like learning a foreign language when it came to answering test questions. 

Fast forward to 2005 when I picked up a copy of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. I was once again hooked on books about China. This book was followed by Peony in Love. I thoroughly enjoyed them both. 

Perhaps my most favorite books of hers, though, were the May and Pearl series which included Shanghai Girls and Dreams of Joy. These need to be read in sequence, and I highly recommend them. The stories of this mother daughter relationship is so full of the history of the time, and was so eye opening to me. 

That is why I love historical fiction so much. You get to experience a time period through the eyes of each character. It helps you to better understand where we have come from, and maybe why we are where we are today. Hopefully, we can learn to not repeat the same mistakes of the past. 

Lisa See’s book The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane sits on my bookshelf right now waiting for me to read it soon. 

If you have never read any of See’s books then I suggest starting with Shanghai Girls. I don’t think you will be disappointed at all. 

Are you familiar with this author?